perfective prefix, in
y-clept, etc.; a deliberate archaism, introduced by Spenser and his imitators, representing an authentic M.E. prefix, from O.E.
ge-, originally meaning "with, together" but later a completive or perfective element, from P.Gmc.
*ga-. It is still living in Ger. and Du.
ge-, and survives, disguised, in some Eng. words (e.g.
alike,
aware).
